Ernest Clark

A distinguished stage actor Ernest Clark was best known to British television viewers for his role as the crusty Sir Geoffrey Loftus in the long running Doctor comedy series during the 1970s Born in Maida Vale Clark was the son of a master builder and was educated at Marylebone Grammar School His first job was as a reporter on a local newspaper and he was also a keen amateur actor He made his first professional appearance at the Festival Theatre Cambridge in 1937 and throughout the 1930s and 40s was rarely off the West End stage In New York in 1950 he garnered rave reviews for his appearance in TS Eliots The Cocktail Party A prolific screen character actor he was usually cast in cold tightlipped roles in British war films He was vicepresident of Equity the British actors union from 196469 and president from 197073 An articulate outspoken and often witty commentator for the acting profession he always argued on the side of regulated entry into what he described as an overcrowded industry Clarks first two marriages were dissolved His third wife was Julia Lockwood the daughter of the British film star Margaret Lockwood IMDb Mini Biography By Patrick Newley